Sanitary support for toilet bowls



Nov. 10, 1936. RZ 2,060,698

SANITARY SUPPORT FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed July 25, 1955 R6727? J, SBFRZEL 57/05 /777'0/7/VY5- INVENTOIT,

Patented Nov. 10, 1936 SANITARY SUPPORT FOR TOILET BOWLS Peter J. Sperzel, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application July 25, 1935, Serial No. 33,006

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sanitary supports for use with toilet bowls.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a novel and improved supporting device of cheap and simple construction, which can be used on toilet bowls to support the user in such manner that the danger from infection and disease is reduced to the minimum.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan-view of a water closet bowl equipped with a supporting device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the supporting device and the upper part of the bowl shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view looking down on a bowl having applied thereto a supporting device equipped with a slightly modified type of balancer, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a toilet bowl I of the ordinary water closet type. This bowl has a rear portion la into which a water pipe 8 runs. In accordance with the present invention there is substituted for the usual toilet seat and toilet seat cover a supporting device including hinge bracket 9, yoke l and balancers l I, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or balancers l2, as shown in Figs. and 6.

The hinge bracket 9 may consist of a flat plate having apertured ears secured as by bolts l3 to the rear portion la of the toilet bowl. The forward central portion of the hinge bracket 9 is curled upwardly to form a cylindrical eye within which a straight central portion of the yoke I0 is journaled. The yoke l0 may consist of merely a rod bent to U-shape and overlying the top of the bowl 1. The two ends of the U-shaped yoke preferably project forwardly to points slightly beyond the central portion of the bowl.

Balancers ll include block-like portions I la having apertures in their lower portions through which the forward ends of the yoke I0 extend, the balancers being secured to the yoke by cross pins l4 received within suitable apertures in the blocklike portions II a and also received within apertures extending through the forward end portions of the yoke ID. The under surfaces of the block-like portions I la of the balancers are channeled, as best shown in Fig. 3, and they have glued or vulcanized to these channeled portions channel-shaped pads l 5 of resilient material, such as rubber. The channels of the pads l5 are of such size as to receive the top portions of the bowl I immediately below the balancers. Integrally formed with, the block-like portions I la of the balancers II and joining these block-like portions at their upper ends are kidney-shaped ledges lib forming opposite supports and the sole supports for persons using the bowl 1. O I

The ledges llb are fiat surfaced, terminating at their edges in rounded portions and they extend inwardly short distances from the block-like portions Ila. These ledges are disposed well above the top of the bowl 1 and the upper surfaces of the ledges preferably incline downwardly somewhat toward the center of the bowl from the horizontal.

The balancers shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will preferably be made of metal, reinforced hard rubber, composition material or other material having surfaces which can be highly polished to be easily sterilized and cleaned.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, balancers l2 are shown which include blocklike portions lZw receiving the ends of the yoke l0 and secured to the end portions of the yokes by pins I4. These block-like portions I 20. are channeled like the portions I la of the previously described construction to receive channel-shaped resilient pads l6 similar to the pads l5. Formed integral with and secured to the upper parts of the block-like portions 12a are ledges l2b covered as by a covering I20 of hard rubber or composition material glued or vulcanized to the ledges. The ledges lZb are of substantially arcuateshape, as shown, and preferably project forwardly relative to the bowl 1 beyond the position that the ledges Nb of the balancers ll occupy. The ledges 12b and coverings lZc may be shaped as shown in Fig. 6, in cross section, so as to afford comfortable supports for the user.

When the supporting device is in use, the body of the person occupying the supporting device will be supported solely by the balancers so that in the case of use of the balancers ll, only the ledges lib of the two opposite balancers will contact the persons body and no portions of the bowl 1 can come in contact with the persons body. In the case of use of the balancers l2,

* EISSUED only coverings I20 of the balancers can come in contact with the persons body. As these parts I lb and [20 may be readily sterilized and cleaned, the supporting device can be kept in clean, sanitary condition at all times, so that the danger of communication of infection and disease to the person using the supporting device is held at the minimum.

Of course, the yoke I together with the balancer connected thereto may be swung upwardly so that the yoke, under parts of the balancers and the top of the bowl 1 can be easily cleaned and sterilized. If desired, the yoke l0 may be equipped with shoulders lOa at either side of the hinge plate 9 to prevent the possibility of lateral shifting movement of the yoke relative to the hinge plate. The pads I or IE will, of course, absorb any shock imparted to the bowl I when the supporting device is lowered.

Use of the supporting device of the present invention eliminates the use of the common infection and disease spreading annular or partially annular toilet seat in common use today and eliminates the need for a backrest or cover. The two balancers used are so located that the persons body is comfortably balanced fore and aft so that the body is stably supported. Although the supporting device is particularly adapted for use in washrooms, it is also admirably adapted for home use. It will be seen that the device is of cheap and simple construction.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which, generally stated, consists of the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a toilet bowl of a supporting device, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed balancers having block-like portions resting on the top of the bowl at the sides thereof and having ledges spaced well above said top of the bowl and joining said block-like portions and means interconnecting said balancers and securing the same to said bowl, the ledges of said balancers being disposed over but a small portion of the top surface of the bowl, projecting inwardly therefrom and forming the sole supports for a person using the bowl.

2. The combination with a toilet bowl of a supporting device, comprising a U-shaped yoke hinged to the rear part of the bowl and normally overlying the top of the bowl, and a pair of opposed balancers secured to forward portions of said yoke, said balancers having channeled under portions within the channels of which parts of the top of the bowl are received to prevent lateral shifting movement of the balancers, said balancers including ledges normally spaced well above the top of the bowl and disposed over but; a small portion of the top surface of the bowl and forming the sole supports for a person using the bowl.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and resilient pads received within said channels between the top of said bowl and said balancers to resiliently support said balancers.

PETER J. SPERZEL. 

